High Heat Major League Baseball 2003

Overview

The wait is finally over. 3DO’s latest installment in the High Heat Major League Baseball series is finally here! Many improvements have been made to the series, including several new game modes, enhanced versions of last year’s favorite modes and a better gameplay experience, thanks to the super-powerful PlayStation 2.

One of the returning features is the Exhibition mode, which allows you to play a game against a friend or against the computer. You may also set up a game where the CPU will take on...the CPU! Not only is this mode a great way to get used to the game’s controls if this is your first time playing, it is also a great way to predict the winners and losers of the year. Which team do YOU think will win the World Series? Pit the two best teams the league against each other and find out. Season mode is pretty self-explanatory: pick your favorite team (or your least favorite, if you wish) and play through a season. Make it to the playoffs and hopefully you’ll be able to lead your team to victory. If not, this is a game, so you can always play it again.

Two-on-Two Showdown is a game of the batter vs. the pitcher. All of the fielders have been removed, meaning that the umpire gives you points based on what he "thinks" your hit would have been. If you run into trouble, it’s possible to make up lost points with some excellent pitching. There’s only one inning in this mode, so if the game ends up being tied, the home team gets the final say in one final, sudden-death pitch.

Everybody knows that the playoffs are the best part of any sport. That’s why High Heat MLB 2003 gives you the option to skip the long, drawn-out season and enter the playoffs in the Stand Alone Playoffs mode. Additionally, there are the Home Run Derby, Create-A-Player, Practice Batting, All-Star Game and Fantasy Draft modes. If there were any more variety in this game, it would be nearly impossible to finish it! As it is now, there are more features in High Heat MLB 2003 than most gamers will ever have the time to use, and that’s one of the things that makes it so great.

Gameplay

High Heat Major League Baseball 2003 is the perfect pick-up-and-play baseball game. Up until now, there was no such thing as a baseball game that could be picked up and played at any time, by any gamer. High Heat MLB 2003 changed all that by providing a fun and exciting gameplay experience that is easy for gamers of all skill levels to jump right into. Playing it for the first time was like playing a really good platformer for the first time: despite being a brand-new game with different play mechanics, everything just magically fit into place. I didn’t have to read the manual or check the button configuration (which can be altered to your liking). All of the buttons were exactly where they should be. I just popped the game into my PS2, pressed the X button and started playing!

Graphics

High Heat looks better than ever! The backgrounds are quite detailed, and the player models are excellent. The animation is silky smooth; every player moves very realistically. And would you look at their faces? They actually look like the real players! The added textures make all the difference. Just look at the backgrounds and you’ll see what I mean. Needless to say, I am highly impressed by High Heat MLB 2003’s visuals.

Fun Factor

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hitting three home runs in a row, and then being able to rub it in your best friend’s face. Sure, anyone can get lucky and win a race in a racing game, or shoot a three-pointer in NBA2k; but it takes a gamer with skills to be able to tell the difference between a ball and a potential strike. I had a blast developing those skills with High Heat MLB 2003. High Heat MLB 2003 puts you in the game more realistically than Acclaim’s All-Star series, or any other baseball game out there. This is the closest you can get to experiencing the real thing without going pro. Just play High Heat for five minutes and I guarantee that you’ll be hooked.

Overall

Longevity is extremely important, especially in sports games. I am happy to say that High Heat MLB 2003 is one of the longest-lasting sports games that I have ever played. The replay value is unprecedented -- I have never played a baseball game this addictive before! Nothing the competition offers can compare. If you love baseball and haven’t gotten High Heat MLB 2003 yet, go out and buy it as soon as you can. It’s worth every penny. You won’t be disappointed.

MLB 2005

Now you have a game that is solid in all aspects and that next year truly has the potential to play with the big boy’s. If I was a betting man, I would definitely put some money on the fact that this time next year MLB 2006 will be a top contender for the best baseball games on the market. As for MLB 2005, if you are in need of a baseball game with a solid franchise and online mode, then MLB 2005 would be a nice pick for you.

World Tour Soccer 2003

If you want a soccer title in 2003 I would recommend World Tour Soccer 2003. Although not the best looking game in the world, the gameplay is solid and the replay value is amazing. This is by far the best 989 Sports game out on the market, as well a top soccer title.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends

This is no a full sequel, and they’re not advertising it as such. As an add-on, XL score very highly in my books for the refinements made in the gameplay, the addition of an extra difficulty level and great replay value. Fans that can’t get enough of Dynasty Warriors will be hard pressed to find anything more enjoyable than XL. At the very least, it’s something to tide you over until the release Dynasty Warriors 4.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

As a game based on the hit Tolkien movies, The Two Towers certainly would be a hit among fans of the movies, and action gamers alike. Everything from high-quality presentation, solid gameplay to exclusive unlockable bonuses just exudes a high degree of class. The Two Towers looks like another winner from EA Games, and shows that movie conversions can work, if done right.

Stuntman

Stuntman is the prime example of the great concept let down by poor execution. Its start-stop gameplay, long load times and lack of replay value means that only a select group of gamers would really enjoy this game. If you have the patience and determination, and willing to overlook the game’s core flaws, then I might suggest that you rent it first before buying. Otherwise, stay clear of this disappointingly average title.